Blackberry-ouachita cultivar

ABSTRACT

Description and specifications of a new and distinct blackberry variety which originated from seed produced by a a hand pollinated cross of Navaho (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,679)×Arkansas selection 1506 (non-patented) is provided. This new blackberry variety can be distinguished by its high fruit yields, large fruit size, erect thornless canes, mid-season ripening, prolific fruiting row establishment, and good fruit quality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The new and distinct variety of blackberry originated from a handpollinated cross of Navaho (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,679)×Arkansasselection 1506 (non-patented) made in 1990 at the Arkansas AgriculturalExperiment Station Fruit Substation at Clarksville, Ark.

[0002] Plants and fruit of this new variety differ phenotypically fromits parents. The new variety is earlier ripening, larger in fruit sizeand has more erect canes than the parent Navaho (U.S. Plant Pat. No.6,679), and is more productive and erect-caned than the parent A-1506.The new variety retains larger fruit size throughout the harvest seasonthan either of the parent blackberries. Although blackberries (Rubussubgenus Rubus) are highly heterogeneous and outcrossing, and mostclones contain genes from more than one species, the new variety and itsprogenitor lines phenotypically exhibit characters predominately of theerect eastern United States species, Rubus allegheniensis Porter(highbush blackberry) possibly introgressed with R. argutus Link. (tallblackberry). Its genes for thornlessness were derived from the Britishcultivar Merton Thornless (non-patented), a derivative of Rubusulmifolius Schott.

[0003] The seeds resulting from this controlled hybridization weregerminated in a greenhouse in the spring of 1991 and planted in a fieldon the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station in Clarksville, Ark. Theseedlings fruited during the summer of 1993 and one, designated Ark.1905, was selected for its mid-season of ripening, large fruit size,excellent fruit quality, erect plant growth habit, and thornless.

[0004] During 1993, the original plant selection was propagatedasexually from root cuttings, at the above noted location, and a testrow of 20 plants was established. Subsequently, larger test plantingshave been established with asexually multiplied plants at threelocations in Arkansas. Additionally, the variety has been tested atstate experiment stations in Griffin, Ga., Jackson, Ky., West Lafayette,Ind., Calhoun, La., Benton Harbor, Mich., and Aurora, Oreg., and at eachlocation propagation was from root cuttings.

[0005] The new variety has been asexually multiplied annually since 1993by the use of root cuttings and by rooting softwood cuttings. It formsnew plants from adventitious buds on root cuttings more readily than itsparent Navaho (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,679). During all asexualmultiplication, the characteristics of the original plant have beenmaintained and no aberrant phenotypes have appeared.

[0006] Test plantings over a wide geographic area have shown this newvariety to be adapted to differing soil and climatic conditions.

[0007] Plants of the new variety are vigorous and prolific and rowestablishment following planting is more rapid than with many otherthornless varieties. Both primocanes and floricanes are erect in growthhabit, and self-supporting, requiring no trellis support. The plants aregenetically thornless, having the recessive genes for thornless derivedfrom the variety Merton Thornless (non-patented). Plants and fruit aremoderately tolerant to anthracnose [Elsinoe veneta (Burkh.) Jenkins],and plants appear immune to orange rust [Gymnoconia nitens (Schwein.) F.Kern and H. W. Thurston.] and double blossom/rosette [Cercosporella rubi(Wint.) Plakidas] The bloom period of the new variety averages 0 to 2days earlier than the cultivar Navaho (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,679).

[0008] Fruit of the new variety begins ripening 7 days earlier than theNavaho (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,679) variety, and has a similar fruitingperiod to this variety of average 35 days. Average first ripening dateis June 12 in central Arkansas. Fruit yields of the new variety areusually 5 to 7 lb/plant and are usually significantly higher than theNavaho (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,679) variety (with yields of 3 to 4lb/plant) at all test locations and are comparable to the high yieldingApache (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,865) variety (5 to 7 lb/plant). Yieldsare consistent from year to year.

[0009] The fruit is conical in shape, bright glossy black in color andvery attractive. The fruit is large (6-7 g) and 1.0 to 1.5 g larger thanthe size of the Navaho (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,679) variety. Fruit sizeof the new variety is maintained well throughout the entire harvestseason. The new variety exhibits excellent fruit fertility with fulldrupelet set in contrast to Navaho (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,679), whichhas some drupelet sterility. The fruit is very firm at maturity, ratingmore firm than the Shawnee (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,686) and Choctaw (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 6,678) varieties, and nearly as firm as the Navaho (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 6,679) variety. Storage ability of fresh fruit of the newvariety is superior to both the Shawnee (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,686) andChoctaw (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,678) varieties in that fruit firmness issuperior to these varieties and resulting storage period is longer, andis comparable to the Navaho (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,679) variety.

[0010] The fresh fruit rates good in flavor, being comparable to Navaho(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,679) variety. The flavor is sweet and mildlysubacid, with a distinct blackberry aroma. Flavor is sweeter and morearomatic than the Shawnee (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,686) variety. Thesoluble solids concentration averages 9.9%, but ranges up to 12%, whichis higher than most other blackberry varieties, but slightly less thanNavaho (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,679) (11.9% average). Dry seed weightaverages 4.5 mg/seed, and seeds are comparable to those of the Navaho(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,679) and slightly smaller than those of Apache(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,865).

[0011] Fruit clusters are medium-large, cymose, and are mostly borne onthe periphery of the plant canopy, providing easy access to harvest.Flower fertility is high and clusters are well filled.

[0012] The new variety has been named the OUACHITA cultivar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0013] The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of theindividual fruit (FIG. 1), erect primocanes with floricanes beneath(FIG. 2), and individual primocane leaf (FIG. 3) of the new variety incolor as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a colorillustration of this character.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

[0014] The following is a detailed description of the botanical andpomological characteristics of the subject blackberry. Color data arepresented in Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart designations.

[0015] Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics aregiven, it is to be understood that such characteristics areapproximations of averages set forth as accurately as practicable.

[0016] The descriptions reported herein are from specimens grown atClarksville, Ark. unless otherwise noted.

[0017] Plant:

[0018]Size.—Medium, erect.

[0019]Growth habit.—Vigorous, with moderate suckering from crowns,moderate suckering from roots, canes erect.

[0020]Growth rate.—Primocanes reach tipping height (107 cm) in 51 daysfrom emergence.

[0021]Productivity.—High and for duration of five weeks; consistent fromyear to year. Yields consistently range from 5 to 7 lb/plant, exceedingNavaho (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,679) (with yields of 3-4 lb/plant).

[0022]Cold hardiness.—Hardy to −17° C., slightly less than Navaho (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 6,679).

[0023]Canes.—Thornless, erect. Cane diameter: base 1.50 cm, midpoint1.41 cm, terminal 1.19 cm. Internode length: base 5.52 cm, midpoint 5.62cm, terminal 4.66 cm. Floricane (winter cane) color: base-Greyed OrangeGroup (166A); midpoint-Yellow Green Group (146A); terminus — Green Group(144A). Primocane color: base-Greyed-Purple Group (187A);midpoint-Greyed-Purple Group (187B); terminus-Greyed-Purple Group(183A). Date of primocane emergence: Julian 98.

[0024]Disease resistance.—Moderate to anthracnose; immune to orange rustand double blossom/rosette.

[0025] Foliage:

[0026]Primocane.—

[0027]Leaves.—Large. Mature compound leaf width 22.20 cm; length 24.80cm. Leaflet: Width 8.08 cm; length 16.26 cm; shape roundish to ovatewith acuminate to acute apex and cordate base; margin serrated,serration teeth length 0.55 cm, and width at base 0.37 cm;moderately-heavy pubescence on abaxial and light pubescence on adaxialsurfaces. Number of leaflets per compound leaf: 5. Color: Baseabaxial-Green Group (137C); adaxial-Green Group (137A); midpointabaxial-Green Group (137D); adaxial-Green Group (137A); terminalabaxial-Green Group (138A); adaxial-Green Group (137C).

[0028]Petioles.—Length: 8.29 cm. Color: Yellow Green Group (148A).

[0029]Petiolules.—Length: 3.48 cm. Color: Green Group (144A).

[0030]Stipules.—Length: 1.68 cm. Width: 0.16 cm.

[0031] Floricane:

[0032]Leaves.—Large. Mature compound leaf width 14.45 cm; length 15.55cm. Leaflet: width 4.65 cm; length 7.60 cm; shape ovate, with acute apexand sagittate base; margin serrated, with serration teeth length 0.43 cmand width at base 0.49 cm; moderate pubescence on abaxial and lightpubescence on adaxial surfaces. Number of leaflets per compound leaf: 3.Color: base abaxial-Green Group (147B); adaxial-Green Group (139A);midpoint abaxial-Green Group (147B); adaxial-Green Group (1 39A);terminal abaxial-Green Group (147B); adaxial-Green Group (139A).

[0033]Petioles.—Length: 5.2 cm. Color: Yellow-Green Group (146B).

[0034]Petiolules.—Length 1.63 cm. Color: Yellow-Green Group (146B).

[0035]Stipules.—Length: 1.18 cm. Width: 0.27 cm.

[0036] Flowers:

[0037]Date of bloom.—First — Julian 117; 50% — Julian 125; Last — Julian143.

[0038]Blossom color.—Red-Purple Group (62D).

[0039]Reproductive organs.—Stamens — erect, numerous. Pistils —numerous. Pollen — normal and abundant.

[0040]Flower diameter.—3.88 cm.

[0041]Petal size.—Length: 1.42 cm. Width: 1.14 cm.

[0042]Number flowers per cluster.—5 to 7.

[0043]Number of petals per flower.—5.

[0044]Number of sepals per flower.—5.

[0045]Peduncle length.—4.07 cm.

[0046]Peduncle color.—Yellow-Green Group (146C).

[0047]Cyme type.—Elongate simple cyme.

[0048] Fruit:

[0049]Maturity.—Mid-season, 7 days before Navaho (U.S. Plant Pat. No.6,679). Average first ripe date is June 12. Average period of ripeningis June 12 to July 17.

[0050]Size.—Large, average 6.0 g, uniform. Diameter: Fruit at primaryposition on inflorescence: equator 2.03 cm, base pole 1.74 cm, terminalpole 1.41 cm; fruit at secondary positions on inflorescence: equator1.88 cm., base pole 1.69 cm, terminal pole 1.36 cm. Length (Primaryfruit) 2.21 cm.

[0051]Shape.—round oblong to conical, uniform.

[0052]Color.—Glossy black; Black Group (202A).

[0053]Drupelet size.—Medium, 0.56 cm.

[0054]Seed size.—Medium, 4.5 mg (dry wt.).

[0055]Soluble solids.—9.9%.

[0056]pH.—2.88 (as measured by pH meter'on undiluted juice from a sampleof 25 fully-ripe berries).

[0057]Acidity.—0.97 g tartaric acid/100 ml.

[0058]Processed quality.—Not evaluated in processing.

[0059]Uses.—Fresh is main use but can be processed for jellies, jams,juice, wine.

[0060] The variety:

[0061] The most distinctive features of the variety are its high yields,large fruit size, mid-season fruit ripening, erect thornless canes,prolific fruiting row establishment, and good fruit quality.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blackberry plant,substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by its highyields, large fruit size, erect thornless canes, mid-season ripening,prolific fruiting row establishment, and good fruit quality.